The upcoming Phase B Traffic Configuration that will take place in Late June – Mid-August 2016. In late June/early July, the ramps to and from I-35 and 95th Street will reopen to traffic and more of the circulation on the west side will open.

How will traffic flow on Marshall Drive?Robyn Arthur2016-05-05T09:54:23+00:00

On May 7, the new Marshall Drive underpass and two adjacent single-lane roundabouts will open allowing traffic to travel north and south on Marshall Drive separated from 95th Street, which is a major change from what drivers are used to. In addition, Marshall Drive to westbound 95th Street and eastbound 95th Street to Marshall Drive will open to traffic as well. See the detailed map above for this Phase A traffic shift configuration that will be in place through late June 2016, weather permitting.

Here’s what this means for drivers: Drivers will now utilize two new single-lane roundabouts on Marshall Drive to access 95th Street. For drivers who are not familiar with roundabouts, the Kansas Department of Transportation has a website page at this link: http://www.ksdot.org/Roundabouts/ dedicated to roundabouts that will help you better understand how to navigate through them. Included on this page, you will find a video link: http://www.ksdot.org/Roundabouts/resources.asp that will show drivers how to safely navigate through a roundabout.

Drivers will now be able to access area businesses, including Costco, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Hoe’s Oriental Market, among others, on the west side of the interchange much easier with the opening of Marshall Drive at 95th Street.

What detours are set up around the 95th St. and I-35 interchange closures?Robyn Arthur2016-03-03T10:28:31+00:00

In the mid- to late summer of 2016, eastbound I-435 will be widened to four through lanes plus auxiliary lanes from I-35 to U.S. 69. There will be several major traffic impacts, which will cause travel delays during peak travel times.

Eastbound I-435 from Lackmann Road to Pflumm Road will be reduced to tow lanes for approximately 60 days to expedite the widening and pavement replacement process.

Eastbound I-435 from Pflumm Road to U.S. 69 will have three through lanes of traffic. Two of the through eastbound lanes will be ‘split’ and located between two concrete barriers on the adjacent north side in the new westbound lanes. This will be similar to the traffic configuration in place last year in the westbound direction.

Eastbound I-435 to Antioch Road ramp exit will be closed for approximately 30 days to reconstruct the exit to accommodate the new fourth lane.

Are there plans to improve the northbound I-35 to westbound I-435 clover leaf ramp?Robyn Arthur2016-03-03T10:38:23+00:00

Yes. The northbound I-35 to westbound I-435/K-10 flyover ramp is part of the phase 3 plans and the ultimate improvements for the area. Currently Phase 3 does not have funding identified for it yet. Phase 3 would need to be part of a future transportation program as it is not identified as part of the current TWORKS transportation program. The current transportation program is until 2020, so likely nothing done before then, unless specific funding is identified.

The westbound I-435 ramps to and from Lackman Road will be closed for approximately three months after the 95th Street and I-35 Interchange opens. These existing ramps will be rebuilt to provide access to the new westbound collector-distributor road and there will also be a new ramp from westbound I-435 to Lackman Road. During the westbound ramp closures, traffic can access I-435 from 95th Street or from the K-10 and Renner Boulevard Interchange. These improvements will help with traffic flow and reduce weaving movements in the area.

How can I get more information on the 95th Street and I-35 interchange traffic impacts?Robyn Arthur2016-03-03T10:42:55+00:00

As of February 22, 2016, the 95th Street and I-35 Interchange closed to be rebuilt as a Diverging Diamond Interchange. In order to accomplish this most efficiently, the entire interchange and some surrounding streets will be closed for six months. All ramps to and from I-35 and 95th Street will reopen by August 2016.

How has access to 95th St. area businesses been affected?Robyn Arthur2016-03-03T10:52:03+00:00

It is an important goal of this project to maintain access to area businesses during construction. Some businesses will have their normal access changed, or reconfigured during construction, as 95th Street or one of the adjacent roads may not be open at their entrance. Side roads will allow customers to reach these businesses during that time. The City of Lenexa has worked with businesses on appropriate directional signage during construction. Detour maps are available here.

How has construction at 95th St. and I-35 affected area residents and neighborhoods?Robyn Arthur2016-03-02T09:52:03+00:00

Construction will impact area residents and neighborhoods as access to some local roads has changed. We have invested a great deal of effort in shortening the closure time to six months and making detours as accessible as possible. Detour maps are available at: http://jocogateway.com/?s=detour+maps. We do understand it will be inconvenient for the duration of the project, but we hope the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term inconveniences.

When will construction begin on the 95th St and I-35 Interchange?Robyn Arthur2016-03-03T10:55:00+00:00

The budget for the Johnson County Gateway Phase 2 Project is $288 million dollars. Funding comes from federal, state and local dollars.

This project is already funded through TWORKS, KDOT’s 10-year comprehensive transportation plan. The City of Lenexa and the City of Olathe contributed funds to help include the College Boulevard, the Ridgeview Road and K-10 interchange, Renner Boulevard and the 95th Street and I-35 interchange improvements.

What type of sound barriers are you putting up to reduce noise in the residential areas around the 95th St and I-35 Interchange?Robyn Arthur2015-10-28T13:08:09+00:00

There is a lot of traffic accessing Marshall Drive and Lenexa Drive. By using underpasses, it can separate that local traffic from the through traffic on 95th Street thus improving circulation. Roundabouts allow traffic to keep moving, but help slow drivers down without the need for a traffic signal.

Will I be able to cross 95th Street at I-35 during the closure?Robyn Arthur2015-10-28T12:58:22+00:00

The closure (with limited local access) will be in place for the full 180 days, or six months. Starting in February, 95th Street from Noland Road to Monrovia Street and all ramps to and from I-35 will be closed. Also in February, Bradshaw Street and Gillette Street will be closed. Stretches of Marshall Drive and Lenexa Drive will be closed from February through May. Significant design changes will occur on these local roads and there will be various changes in access to and from businesses during this time Notification of these closures and changes will occur prior to the closure.

Construction is scheduled to be complete in mid- November 2016 (before Thanksgiving). Most of the significant closures will be completed by August, but there will be additional finishing work and short-term overnight lane closures in the area through mid-November.

Why was a diverging diamond intersection chosen at the 95th St and I-35 Interchange?Robyn Arthur2015-10-28T12:56:44+00:00

The City of Lenexa and KDOT studied this interchange area to develop and improvement plan several years ago. Based on the existing and future traffic projections, development in the area and the high volume of traffic getting on and off of I-35, it was determined that a Diverging Diamond Interchange was the best design for the conditions in the area. The DDI moves traffic to the left side of the road between the interchange ramps. This configuration accommodates higher left turning movements onto and off of the highway, improving efficiency of the interchange, it improves safety by reducing the number of conflict points, it reduces delays by reducing the signal timing.

Why does the 95th St. and I-35 Interchange need to be closed for 6 months?Robyn Arthur2015-10-28T12:57:16+00:00

In order to reconstruct the interchange as safely and efficiently as possible, the interchange needs to be closed for six months in order to complete the construction. During the construction bid process different phasing alternatives were considered, in order to keep local roads open as much as possible. Traffic will be reopen by mid-November 2016.

What is a collector distributor road?Robyn Arthur2015-10-28T12:47:19+00:00

The collector distributor road system currently under construction will help reduce weaving and improve safety by separating through-traffic on eastbound K-10/I-435 from drivers wanting to access I-35 or exit local roads. The new road configuration will change decision points for drivers, thus its important for drivers to follow posted signs.

What determines if the I-35 and 95th Street Interchange is added to the Project?sturgesword2015-10-28T12:40:32+00:00

The Renner Boulevard and K-10 interchange is now complete! The eastbound K-10 ramps were opened to traffic in August 2015 and the westbound K-10 ramps and Renner Boulevard opened in early September 2015. The first step was to relocate a large watermain and construct bridge piers.

What is a dedicated through lane?Robyn Arthur2015-04-24T14:23:21+00:00

Dedicated through lanes are a way for the construction team to keep traffic flowing while being able to adjust where the lane is on the highway. On both I-435 and I-35, a dedicated through lane, or a lane between concrete barriers, has been added to the opposite side of traffic in order to keep three lanes of traffic moving at all times. The dedicated through lane was implemented on westbound I-435 in the summer of 2014 and on I-35 in the spring of 2015. Here are diagrams on how it will function.

Are there any plans to improve College Boulevard to help with increased traffic during construction?sturgesword2015-10-28T12:28:16+00:00

Yes. KDOT and the cities of Lenexa and Olathe have agreed to include improvements to College Boulevard between Renner Boulevard and Ridgeview Road as part of the Phase 2 Project.

Improvements to College Boulevard were completed in July 2015, it has now been widened to four lanes between Ridgeview Rd. and Renner Blvd. This addition now makes College Blvd. a continuous four-lane Road to Woodland Road.

How long will the Johnson County Gateway Phase 2 Project take to complete?Robyn Arthur2014-05-05T14:20:33+00:00

Construction will begin in mid to late May 2014. You will see some activity along the entire project route (utility marking, surveying, etc.) through the Spring.

Will there be any improvements seen to the following direction of travel: The congestion resulting from drivers coming North on I-35, then taking the exit to I-435 West who have to quickly get over 2 lanes of high speed traffic to avoid inadvertently exiting at Lackman Rd or K-10?sturgesword2014-04-18T08:55:03+00:00

Yes. Improvements in this area will alleviate the need for drivers to have to cross 2 lanes so quickly.

Will there be any improvements seen to the following direction of travel: The congestion resulting from drivers coming from Lackman Rd trying to get onto I-435 East while drivers on I-435 heading south-east are trying to get over as quickly as possible to take the exit for I-35 South?sturgesword2014-04-18T09:00:27+00:00

KDOT is committed to keeping you informed about construction and traffic impacts. The project website: www.jocogateway.com will be the primary location for up-to-date information about the project. Project communication will be shared via traffic alerts, Twitter, Facebook, text messages and electronic project updates. While you will see night and weekend work, this is a very large project and some of that work will be in addition to what will be going on during the day in order to get everything done in 2.5 years.

Will afternoon rush hour drivers coming North on I-35 from Olathe toward Lenexa who use the I-435 West exit ramp to go to 87th Street be impacted by this construction in the evening?sturgesword2014-05-28T16:05:45+00:00

Yes. This ramp is scheduled to be closed for up to 45 days during construction. Closer to the date of the closure, the website will have that information posted and we will be providing that information through traffic alerts, social media updates and text messages. Be sure to sign up on the project website for text messages.

Will morning rush hour drivers coming from Lenexa who use I-435 South to get onto I-35 South to head towards Olathe be impacted by the Lackman Road/435 construction?sturgesword2014-04-10T12:32:52+00:00

The local communities were engaged as partners in this Study. They had the opportunity to provide input into all aspects of the Study process. The Study partners asked rigorous questions and requested additional information (e.g. traffic analysis of specific options) to address their comfort level with the proposed concepts.

What can be done quickly to solve some of the congestion issues?sturgesword2014-04-10T12:30:57+00:00

The first phase, the Yellow Project began construction in 2012. The Yellow Project will add auxiliary lanes to I-35 from 119th Street to I-435 in both directions. This will relieve some of the more significant congestion areas which people experience today.

This may increase the time it takes for trucks to get from my business to the highway. How will I be compensated?sturgesword2014-04-10T12:30:35+00:00

There will not be any compensation for any increase in travel time to your business. Planned improvements will reduce congestion and travel times, and improve safety and reliability, which will help businesses in the area.

Why did we do the Study given the state’s financial situation?sturgesword2014-04-10T12:30:08+00:00

This interchange is one of the busiest in the state of Kansas and very important to the economic vitality of the region. It is a huge priority for Kansas and the local communities. This interchange system is a critical link for the metropolitan area and the state, as several important trade routes pass through this interchange. If improvements are not made soon, traffic delays and unreliable travel will hurt the economic vitality of the surrounding communities. Given the interchange’s importance to the region and the state, this Study was one of two Preliminary Engineering (PE) Only Projects in Johnson County and one of three in the KC Metro Area.

Even with multiple transit strategies employed, traffic models suggest it is unlikely we will be able to shift enough people from single-occupancy cars to buses to solve the congestion problem. Thus, improvements to existing routes will still be required. No one strategy by itself will solve the congestion problems we anticipate. A range of strategies is needed. This will likely include some combination of additional capacity (e.g., HOT lanes, managed lanes), mode shift (e.g., carpools, transit), travel demand management (e.g., staggering work hours, ramp metering, coordinating land use planning with transportation on a regional scale), and other appropriate traffic management solutions. Johnson County Transit has implemented Bus on Shoulder use during peak travel on I-35 to increase transit opportunities along the I-35 corridor.

Total improvement costs are estimated to be $600 million (2016 dollars). Projects will have to be phased in over time. Pending future programming decisions, design, right of way, and utility relocations, it could take 20 years to complete the entire interchange improvements.

Traffic is bad now, when will improvements be completed?sturgesword2014-04-10T12:28:01+00:00

The study recommendations were completed in 2010. The study identified ways to improve traffic flow. Phase 1 (the Yellow Project) began in 2012 and added auxiliary lanes from I-35 from 119th Street to I-435 in both directions. Phase 2, scheduled to begin in 2014, will address the majority of the existing issues in the area. The completion of Phase 3 will be dependent on funding.

How will these improvements affect my commute?sturgesword2014-04-10T12:27:35+00:00

The proposed improvements are designed to enhance safety and reduce congestion through the I-435/I-35/K-10 interchange area. By adding new lanes and using collector-distributor roads to reduce the weaving of ramp traffic with mainline traffic, the driver experience through the area will be safer and more efficient.

The Johnson County Gateway: I-435/I-35/K-10 Interchange is one of the most congested interchanges in the state. Accident rates are above the statewide average and the existing pavement needs to be replaced. Continued economic development in the region depends on a safe and efficient Gateway Interchange. Improvements will reduce congestion and improve safety in the area.

Since the interchange area is multi-jurisdictional, KDOT engaged the cities of Olathe, Lenexa and Overland Park, Johnson County, the Mid-America Regional Council and the Federal Highway Administration as Study partners.

The Concept Study developed recommendations for future improvements to the interchange. Phase 1 (the Yellow Project) will be completed in late 2012. Phase 2 is scheduled to begin in 2014. The completion of Phase 3 is dependent on funding.

Were there opportunities for public input?sturgesword2014-04-10T12:26:15+00:00

Yes. KDOT is committed to engaging the public to learn what types of transportation investments are important. For the Johnson County Gateway project there were two public meetings, electronic outreach including a website with a blog, online surveys, focus groups, community presentations, media relations, public official’s briefings, advisory group meetings, and two issues workshops.

How long did the Study take to completesturgesword2014-05-28T16:13:24+00:00

The study area was defined as I-435 from Quiviria Road to 87th Street, I-35 from 95th Street to 119th Street and K-10 from Woodland to I-435. A half-mile area adjacent to the highway on either side will be evaluated for potential impacts.

KDOT recognized the need to study this area based on traffic and congestion in the area as well as the age of the pavement. The I-435/I-35/K-10 Interchange area was also identified as a priority need by the local communities to improve safety and mobility through this area.

Will there be more or less opportunity to incorporate bridge aesthetics with design-buildsturgesword2014-04-10T12:24:14+00:00

All current plans take into consideration multimodal transportation solutions and do not preclude future use of transit, bus on shoulders, additional shoulder use, managed lanes or high occupancy transportation (HOT) lanes, ramp metering, etc. Additionally, all current plans allow for future bike and pedestrian access for crossings on the local street network so the highway is viewed as less of a barrier for transportation. Additional transit routes do not fully address the capacity needs of the interchange area. In other words, adding additional buses alone will not reduce congestion enough.

How is KDOT using the input received from the public and stakeholders?sturgesword2014-05-28T16:14:07+00:00

KDOT has conducted a series of focus groups, workshops and online surveys to gather input from stakeholders and the public on project priorities and traffic impacts during construction. We also worked with our Advisory Group and local communities to discuss input and issues over the past several years, beginning with the Concept Study. The input gathered from these activities will influence requirements in the Request for Proposals (RFP), such as Maintenance of Traffic. For example, the input received helped establish a framework for levels of tolerance for the traveling public that will help put parameters on how long portions of the roadway network can be closed. We understand there will be inconveniences during construction and the input received will help KDOT communicate more effectively and efficiently with the traveling public and its stakeholders.

What are the approximate pavement quantities that have been estimated for the Project?sturgesword2014-04-10T12:22:27+00:00

There are existing undermined areas near K-10 and Renner Boulevard and the advance mine remediation project will stabilize voids with rock material beneath the proposed roadway improvements. This work will occur in 2013, in advance of selecting a design-build team.

Will any local Interchanges be closed during constructionsturgesword2014-04-10T12:13:43+00:00

The final budget for the Gateway RFP will be $285 million. The Design-Build teams are competing to provide the best project for that $285 million fixed budget. The final budget now includes the T-WORKS construction funding of $250 million, additional funding from local participants and funding for design and engineering work. KDOT is confident that we will receive a great project for the budget.

The Project will address the primary areas of concern identified in the Concept Study, and will deliver the highest value improvements possible within the T-WORKS budget. The following will be included in the planning:

Right of way acquisition

Utility relocation

Permitting

Undermined remediation

Preliminary Concept Map:

About Us

The JoCo Gateway Interchange is a critical hub for both transportation and economic growth for the region and the state – precisely why the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) began the project. Once completed, the Johnson County Gateway Project will ensure safe and efficient travel to all areas of development for years to come.

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